Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 26, NWS Albuquerque, NM

April 13, 2012Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at Apr 13, 2012, 4:10 AM MDT for Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico. It took effect at Apr 14, 2012, 9:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 11 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Apr 13, 2012, 4:10 AM MDT (10:10 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 14, 2012, 9:00 AM MDT
Expired
Apr 14, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
11 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM

Counties Harding County, NM, San Miguel County, NM, Union County, NM

The radar

The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:07 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 14, 4:50 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 60Bell Ranch, NM
Apr 14, 4:53 PM MDTHIGH SUST WINDS 406 Ne Las Vegas, NMKLVS ASOS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 00:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 225 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 2012-04-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 2012-04-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 87 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3230 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
87 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

471 
WWUS85 KABQ 131010
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
410 AM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TODAY FOR MOST
OF THE AREA EXCEPT THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS DUE
TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM MDT TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY
FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS ESPECIALLY FAVORING THE TEXAS BORDER DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT
PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THROUGH SATURDAY. THE
WIND GRADIENT WILL STRENGTHEN ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA TODAY AND
WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A MID LEVEL DRY SLOT. CRITICAL CONDITIONS
WILL EXPAND IN SIZE AND DURATION TODAY. NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE
NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR OVER SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL AREAS
WHILE THEY WILL BE 7 TO 12 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS THE EAST.
THE MOST UNSTABLE AIRMASS SHOULD BE FOUND EAST OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...PARTICULARLY OVER THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS.

AS THE PACIFIC TROUGH PUSHES FURTHER INTO NEW MEXICO...A STRONG
WIND FIELD IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF IT AND AFFECT
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. HUMIDITIES WILL
FALL LOW ENOUGH ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS TO SUPPORT CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER GROWTH CONDITIONS. THE WINDS WILL LIKELY BE VERY STRONG
ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS ON SATURDAY...ALTHOUGH THE
STABILITY OF THE ATMOSPHERE SHOULD INCREASE SOME.

NMZ104-108-140300-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0023.120414T1500Z-120415T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0026.120414T1500Z-120415T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0025.120413T1800Z-120414T0300Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
410 AM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE EASTERN
  PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON WITH CONTINUED CRITICAL CONDITIONS INTO
  SATURDAY. CONDITIONS WILL START EARLIER ON SATURDAY.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45
  MPH TODAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH
  POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS BETWEEN 6 AND 10 PERCENT TODAY.
  MINIMUM HUMIDITY OF 8 TO 15 PERCENT POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

NMZ109-140300-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0022.120413T1800Z-120414T0300Z/
/O.EXA.KABQ.FW.W.0025.120413T1800Z-120414T0300Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
410 AM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT
  THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

NMZ105-140300-
/O.EXA.KABQ.FW.W.0025.120413T1800Z-120414T0300Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
410 AM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE NORTHWEST
  HIGHLANDS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING...FAVORING AREAS SOUTH
  OF INTERSTATE 40.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS BETWEEN 9 AND 15 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

NMZ103-106-107-140300-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0025.120413T1800Z-120414T0300Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 103
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS/EASTERN CARSON AND SANTA FE NF/SNZ-TAZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 106
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE-SOCORRO BLM/ABZ-GLZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 107
SANDIA-MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS/EASTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
410 AM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE NORTHEAST
  HIGHLANDS...THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...THE SANDIA...MANZANO
  AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS...AND THE ESTANCIA BASIN THIS AFTERNOON
  INTO EARLY EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS BETWEEN 9 AND 15 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
155 
WWUS85 KABQ 140347
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
947 PM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM MDT TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY
FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS ESPECIALLY FAVORING THE TEXAS BORDER DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AGAIN SATURDAY. AS THE PACIFIC
TROUGH PUSHES FURTHER INTO NEW MEXICO...A STRONG WIND FIELD WILL
DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF IT AND AFFECT SOUTHERN...CENTRAL AND EASTERN
AREAS TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. HUMIDITIES WILL FALL LOW ENOUGH
ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS TO SUPPORT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER GROWTH
CONDITIONS. THE WINDS WILL LIKELY BE VERY STRONG ACROSS SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN AREAS ON SATURDAY...ALTHOUGH THE STABILITY OF THE
ATMOSPHERE SHOULD INCREASE SOME. POOR TO VERY LOCALLY FAIR
HUMIDITY RECOVERIES TONIGHT WILL HASTEN THE ONSET OF CRITICAL
CONDITIONS SATURDAY MORNING.

NMZ104-108-141400-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0026.120414T1500Z-120415T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
947 PM MDT FRI APR 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT
SATURDAY...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT
SATURDAY. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE EASTERN
  PLAINS BEGINNING SATURDAY MID TO LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY
  EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
  AROUND 60 MPH POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITY OF 8 TO 15 PERCENT
  POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

43
521 
WWUS85 KABQ 141206
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
606 AM MDT SAT APR 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM MDT TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
THE EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM SLIDING OVER NEW MEXICO COMBINED WITH
A DEEPENING SURFACE LEE TROUGH ALONG THE FRONT RANGE OF THE ROCKIES
WILL CREATE STRONG WINDS OVER THE AREA TODAY. A MID LEVEL DRY SLOT
ADVANCING EAST OUT AHEAD OF THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL COMBINE WITH
THE STRONG WINDS TO SUPPORT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER GROWTH ACROSS
MUCH OF THE EASTERN PLAINS. THESE CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP
VERY QUICKLY THIS MORNING AS RECOVERIES ARE ONLY POOR TO FAIR IN
MOST LOCATIONS. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING
USHERING IN COLDER TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES.

NMZ104-108-150200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0026.120414T1500Z-120415T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
606 AM MDT SAT APR 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE EASTERN
  PLAINS MID TO LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS BETWEEN 8 AND 15 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 13, 3:41 PM MDTHigh Wind WarningABQ28 hr
Apr 13, 3:41 PM MDTWind AdvisoryABQ28 hr
Apr 13, 3:58 PM MDTWinter Weather AdvisoryABQ36 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2012Every red flag warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.